101
the new police non-emergency number launches in Cheshire
Cheshire Police, together with Merseyside Police and Greater Manchester
Police, have switched over to using the new national non-emergency
telephone number − ‘101′.
The introduction of ‘101′ is part of a national programme to make
it easier for members of the public to contact police in a non-emergency,
where an immediate police response is not required. From 23.11.2011
‘101′ has replaced the force′s previous non-emergency number 0845
458 0000.
Assistant Chief Constable Janette McCormick said:
"The introduction of 101 provides a simple, memorable number
for the public to use. We believe the introduction of 101 will
divert some calls away from the emergency 999 system. We know that
69% of calls last year that came in via the 999 system did not
require a grade one response which requires attendance at the location
within 15 minutes of receiving the call.
"When a member of the public dials 101 in Cheshire they will
hear a recorded message which will welcome them to 101. They will
then hear a message that informs them they are being connected
to Cheshire Police. Next they will be offered the alterative of
being connected to one of our neighbouring Forces, GMP, Merseyside,
Staffordshire or North Wales. If they do not require any of these
forces, the message offers the option to press hash and to be connected
to an operator who can put you through to which ever Force you
need."
Calls to 101 will not change the way in which we respond to non-emergency
calls, they will continue to be managed by officers and staff who
work in the call handling centre for Cheshire Police.
For the first time there will also be a single flat rate charge
of 15 pence, no matter how long the duration of the call is, what
time of day it is or whether the call is from a landline or mobile
phone.
However, the public are reminded to always call 999 in an emergency,
where there is a threat to life or a crime in progress.
The 101 number will be fully introduced across England and Wales
by the end of December 2011.
JANE THIRSK
Watch Officer
Cheshire Police
Macclesfield Neighbourhood Policing Team 0845 458 6371
Police non-emergency number: 101
Other Homewatch pages of current relevance: Briefs (recent
crimes in the Macclesfield Division including Bollington, Kerridge
and Pott Shrigley).
If you haven't looked at the homewatch pages before we recommend
looking at the homewatch home page.
